Actions

Lincoln HS deals with aftermath of riot, arrest

By:
10News Digital Team

Posted at 8:04 AM, Feb 29, 2016

and last updated2016-03-01 02:31:14-05

Lincoln High School students met with school and community leaders Monday to discuss a brawl last week that sent four students and a campus police officer to the hospital, and led to the arrest of two students.

On Feb. 26, a fight that broke out during lunch at the high school ended when San Diego police officers used pepper spray on several students. A campus police officer, identified as Abdi Bashir, was taken to the hospital with a head injury, and four students were also taken for treatment for being pepper sprayed.

Police said Bashir was jumped from behind by a student. During the altercation, Bashir used his stun gun on a student, identified as Jesse Duncan. The teen was taken to the hospital.

Ultimately, Duncan and another student were arrested for felony assault on an officer, and police said, "… more arrests are expected in the near future."

10News learned Jesse Duncan is the son of Brandon Duncan, a local rapper known as Tiny Doo. Brandon Duncan, who has no criminal record, made headlines after he was jailed on a gang conspiracy charge over his rap lyrics. A judge tossed the case out.

On Friday, the student's father told 10News he believes the police singled out his son.

"I think it has everything to do with me and nothing to do with my kids," Duncan said, adding that his son is a 3.0 student with no criminal record who wants to study criminal justice.

Cell phone footage obtained by 10News showed some of Friday's altercation. The San Diego County District Attorney's Office decided Monday afternoon it would not release surveillance footage of the fight.

A San Diego Unified spokeswoman told 10News the district is anxious for the public to see the video, but the DA's office said it will not be released at this time.

On Monday, students wore green for solidarity and formed a prayer circle in the school courtyard.

"We talked about how we felt, and what we think needs to be done and how we can make a difference on campus," said student Misha San Martin.

A lot of kids said they are tired of their school getting negative attention.

"The police just over-exaggerated about what happened and it wasn't even all that," said student Syerra Gardner. "They made it seem that Lincoln is a bad school, but it's not."

Duncan told 10News on Monday that he just wants "justice for Jesse; I just want my son to be exonerated of any false charges and I want him to come home."

"I think the police officer overreacted and he should assess the situation before acting the way he acted. I feel like you should never have to use any type of weapon on a child at school. I feel like he should have sat down and figured out what was going on," Duncan added.

Duncan said he will be meeting with San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten.

Charlotte Johnson, whose son is a 10th grader at the school, said, "They grab the kids, they twist their arms, all that, and it's like the 10th and 11th graders play fighting with the 9th and 10th graders; they shouldn't have did it like that."

"Why would you need a Taser for a kid? If I was that kid's mom, I'd be getting a lawyer right now and suing the city of San Diego, San Diego Unified School District and the school police," Johnson said. "They try to act like they're the San Diego Police, but then they're handling kids, sometimes people don't have kids, and they don't know how to handle kids."

R. Vernon Moore, executive director of youth advocacy for the district, met with students on Monday.

He said, "What's emerging is that our students are looking for a way to have their voice heard, about concerns that are going on, on our campus."

When asked if Lincoln High needed more than one officer on duty, Moore said, "I think that's been a discussion at a lot of campuses, not just here at Lincoln. It may be something of consideration."

The San Diego Unified School District Board will meet Tuesday at 5 p.m. to discuss the brawl. Parents will be able to address concerns in open session before the board goes behind closed doors to discuss. 10News will be there and you can watch live reports in our newscasts beginning at 5 p.m.